Pretty sugar cookies covered in vibrantly coloured royal icing have littered the likes of Foodbuzz for the last couple of weeks.
I've LONGED to be able to make them - but never believed I could. All the talk of "flooding icing" and outlining had me in shivers.
Then, I picked up a stunning hard backed book in Waitrose by Biscuiteers and decided maybe it was time to be brave ! Oliver picked a couple of cookie cutters and we got to work and made the chocolate cookie dough recipe from the book.
Making iced sugar cookies is a long process, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed skiddling around in the kitchen last Sunday afternoon / evening. The icing went much further than I expected it to and quite a bit was left over. By Monday morning when Oliver came down stairs, I had quite a collection of little black pussy cat biscuits waiting to show him.
Biscuiteers.com make hand crafted iced cookies which can be sent as gifts - so much more novel that a conventional box of chocolates. After succeeding with the cat biscuits, I've gathered myself a little collection of cookie cutters and plan to make my mother-in-law a "garden" set for her birthday in a couple of months. I've bought a tulip, watering can, bird, daisy, ladybird, caterpillar and a few other cutters.
Looking forward to practising. Look out for the book. There are a few recipes in it - but loads of photos and ideas with instuctions how to ice. Super rainy day project....
Sarah-Jane Nash - http://www.siliconemoulds.com/ silicone bakeware specialists, UK based - shipping worldwide
